Cloud Ball, akin to tennis, lacks serves. Balls are added periodically, zipping between courts. Yet, the match before Tatsuya diverged from this norm. Mayumi's opponent, relying solely on magic, was no match for her Ten Master Clans prowess. Despite the three-minute sets, the rival sweated as if enduring an hour, her psions nearly depleted.
(She's overreaching against the president, misjudging her limits,) Tatsuya thought.
When the buzzer signaled a break, the opponent collapsed to her knees. (Selected for the Nine Schools yet self-destructing… Is the president's level too high, or the opponent's too low? Probably the former.)
Mayumi's magic surpassed high school standards, Tatsuya believed. Her opponent's frontal assault might seem brave to others, stirring excitement, but to him, it was reckless folly. (I expected more entertainment…) Though devoid of "fun," Tatsuya had anticipated more from the competition, making the outcome disappointing.
During the break, Mayumi lingered on the court, gripped by an odd sensation. (This gaze… it's not like other boys'.) Stands' stares targeted her thighs, chest, or glimpsed underskirt, but the piercing look from the bench—Tatsuya's—was different. (It's like he sees through all of me, every piece of 'Mayumi Sevengrass.')
Unfamiliar, this gaze froze her. She knew she should return to the bench to towel off and hydrate, but that meant facing Tatsuya. (No younger girl could handle this stare. No complaints from the first-years he oversees… Is it my imagination? Or do I sense it because it's me?)
As officials stirred, noticing her stillness, Mayumi rallied herself. (Come on! Courage, woman!) She marched to the bench.
"Good work," Tatsuya said.
"It's not over! Don't let your guard down!" Mayumi retorted, masking her earlier hesitation with bravado. His role was limited to breaks, making her warning odd, but Tatsuya pointed out something else.
"It's over. Your opponent forfeited."
Turning, Mayumi saw the referee and opposing staff conferring. "Psion depletion from continuous magic use," Tatsuya explained. "She wasn't up to facing you. Let's check your CAD."
"You knew just by watching?"
"You see it if you observe properly."
Mayumi didn't mind Tatsuya taking charge. Her "like a brother" quip, meant to lighten the mood, might've held some truth.
After the CAD check, Tatsuya returned it unaltered, per Mayumi's request. In the second round, she sensed something amiss. Cloud Ball demanded up to five matches in half a day, yet her magic felt inexplicably sharper. (Why? Why's my magic so efficient now?)
Spectators didn't notice, but Mayumi felt it clearly—her performance surpassed the first match. With stamina waning, physical condition wasn't the cause. Only one explanation remained. After taking the first set, she strode to the bench.
"Tatsuya-kun, you liar! You tweaked the program!"
"I didn't. Is there a problem?"
"The spell efficiency's clearly higher! No time to tweak hardware, so it must be software!"
"It's higher, not lower, right?"
Mayumi's outrage deflated, realizing her accusation's unfairness. "Sit down," Tatsuya said, unfazed, prompting her like the senior.
"It's because I cleaned up junk," he explained.
"You didn't disassemble it, and there wasn't time!"
"Not hardware—software. Leftover system files from old updates cluttered the CAD's system area. I removed them. Normally, it's unnoticeable, but I underestimated your sensitivity. Sorry."
"It's fine! You did your job. I'm sorry…"
Mayumi felt ashamed for her outburst, but Tatsuya admired her ability to apologize sincerely. "Hey, Tatsuya-kun," she said.
"Yes?"
"Can you teach me about that cleanup later?"
"Of course, but focus on the match now."
Mayumi, suddenly fired up, declared, "Leave it to your big sister! Watch me shine!"
Tatsuya let her enthusiasm slide, despite the urge to retort. She dominated, winning Women's Cloud Ball flawlessly.
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